This is after he was arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Friday, January 26. It is alleged that the officer quarreled with a 33-year-old member of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) attached to the Air Force Base Hoedspruit at a tavern called Kinimambo. The SANDF member allegedly went to the Hoedspruit Police Station to report the incident but was told to return later as he was allegedly drunk.

The police sergeant went to the police station at around 02:30 and came across the SANDF member outside the premises of the station. He allegedly fired several shots, and the SANDF member was fatally wounded. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene. Brig Gen Andries Mokoena Mahapa, SANDF spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said that they are saddened by the sudden death. “The SAPS and the Military Police Agency are currently investigating the incident.

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The details of the deceased will be released once their next-of-kin have been informed,” he said. DA provincial spokesperson of Transport and Community Safety, Katlego Suzan Phala, said that they welcomed the arrest of the police officer. “5489 police officers have been arrested since 2019 and despite their arrests, 3981 of these officers are still in the employ of SAPS.

“Some of these criminal charges against police officers include murder, rape, attempted murder, corruption and assault. “The lack of holding police officers accountable for crime, illustrates the complete failure of the management of SAPS. We are very concerned that the safety of our communities is entrusted to a SAPS riddled with duplicitous police officers,” she said. The outcome of the court case was not available at the time of going to print on Monday.